Credit card unknown charge, who is responsible

GazzaT_3

Hi all,

My wife and I holidayed in the USA last year and I used my Halifax Clarity Card for the hire car at Thrifty.

All went well and we returned the car, got a receipt with all fees paid and a balance of zero.

We got home 11th October 2013.

On 20th January 2014 Thrifty charged my card again for $16.45, they had not invoiced me or asked if they could take the money nor did I have any idea what the charge was for.

I rang Halifax and told them that I did not authorise the transaction and did not want to pay it. They sent me some forms which I filled in and returned.

Today they have written to me and said that there is nothing they can do and I need to contact Thrifty to sort it out myself.....

Surely, if I have not authorised a transaction on my card I should not be liable for it and should not have to chase the said company myself ?

Any advice on the best way to deal with this would be appreciated.

Cheers, Gary

PeacefulWaters

You almost certainly authorised miscellaneous charges as part of the hire.

So it's over to you to deal with the car hire firm.

Fuel charge?

[Deleted User]

Contact Thrifty.

You'll almost certainly have authorised any future charges for any damage etc, discovered - so you need to find out why they have charged you this. And then dispute the reason if need be.

GazzaT_3

Definately not a fuel charge as that was paid (paid for full tank return empty)

No damage to car as checked when returned, also had full LDW and also extra insurance for damage to tyres/windscreen/undercarriage.

Also finding it hard to find an email address to contact Thrifty, but tried this one
InternetHelpDesk@thrifty.com

MPH80

You don't say where in the USA you were - but there are an increasing number of cashless toll roads. There's one (or more?) in particular in Miami that seem to get people:

http://blogs.creditcards.com/2011/08/getting-a-rental-car-watch-for-toll-charges-charged-to-your-credit-card.php

I've been hit by them elsewhere too - thankfully my company pays!

reclusive46

MPH80 wrote: »

You don't say where in the USA you were - but there are an increasing number of cashless toll roads. There's one (or more?) in particular in Miami that seem to get people:

http://blogs.creditcards.com/2011/08/getting-a-rental-car-watch-for-toll-charges-charged-to-your-credit-card.php

I've been hit by them elsewhere too - thankfully my company pays!

I'd imagine its this. Sometimes it takes months for tolls to come through.

chattychappy

GazzaT wrote: »

Today they have written to me and said that there is nothing they can do and I need to contact Thrifty to sort it out myself.....

Is that all they said?

Ultimately it is for them to prove that you authorised it. Perhaps you did (as per the above posts). If you really can't work out how this might have happened, then ask the CC to prove that the charge was authorised. They wouldn't be able to tell a court/the FOS that there is nothing they can do.

Aquamania

chattychappy wrote: »

Is that all they said?

Ultimately it is for them to prove that you authorised it. Perhaps you did (as per the above posts). If you really can't work out how this might have happened, then ask the CC to prove that the charge was authorised. They wouldn't be able to tell a court/the FOS that there is nothing they can do.

Th OP admits to having rented a vehicle from Thifty and presumably used the credit card for such rental.

Usually rental agreements allow for any supplementary charges to be billed to the same account.

As PW said as early as post#2 (although not necessarily for fuel)

OP - have you contacted Thifty? They should be able to advise you what the additional charge was for (and supply an invoice/receipt if you really want one)

Hooloovoo

The OP could also have a speeding fine on its way to them. The charge could be the admin fee for processing the fine and passing on your details.

It's always fun when that happens ...

reclusive46

Hooloovoo wrote: »

The OP could also have a speeding fine on its way to them. The charge could be the admin fee for processing the fine and passing on your details.

It's always fun when that happens ...

Speed cameras are very very rare in the US. Only about 3 states have them. Lots of red light cameras though and a few stop sign cameras (In Florida and New York state mainly).

GazzaT_3

Thanks guys for all your input.

The current status of this is that Thrifty are being extremely evasive.

They told me that the charge was for a violation.

I asked them for proof of the violation and they said eventually said (after 20 - 30 emails) that it was a toll charge and admin fee.

I asked them where the violation occured and they said a toll road in TEXAS, however I was in Florida (mainly Orlando plus one visit to Tampa for Busch Gardens)

So, I emailed them yet again to explain this and once again they stopped replying to me.

I have asked them to refund the money as the charge is obviously not mine, whenever I ask for a refund they ignore me.

Does anyone know of any governing body for USA rental cars that I can complain to as they could be doing this to thousands of people and making a mint by this fraudulent practice.

Cheers, Gary